We want to bring awareness to your readers about a 34 acre wood recycling center that is in the permitting process with King County. Buckley Recycling Center is hoping to move their operation from Auburn to Enumclaw. The proposed site is less than 2000 feet southeast of the Bass Lake wildlife area and less than 200 feet from the nearest homes.

Some of our immediate concerns are:

Traffic: The operation is expected add 164 daily truck trips to an already congested Enumclaw-Franklin Rd. The intersection of Highway 169 and the Enumclaw-Franklin Rd. is already a dangerous intersection. Serious injury accidents and fatalities have occurred at this intersection over the years and the most recent fatality occurred on October 30, 2017. Major improvements must be made to this intersection and the Franklin Road. The road itself leading up to this proposed project is in horrible condition and the speed limit seems excessive.

Water: How will the runoff affect Bass Lake, the Green River, the Green/Duwamish Watershed and nearby private and community wells?

Noise: They are asking for the working hours to be 7 days a week 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The predicted noise levels are expected to have impact on nearby properties and bird habitat.

Past Business Practices: These are the same owners who according to the State of Washington Department of Ecology website, at this address: 26719 SR 410 & 26414 Entwhistle Rd. E., Buckley, WA 98321 is still “awaiting cleanup” at this time. Why are they moving their facility from Auburn to Enumclaw?

King County tax dollars, private businesses and many conservation groups have contributed millions of dollars towards habitat recovery and the acquisition of the Bass Lake Complex which immediately borders this site. Why now would the County want to relocate this facility to such a sensitive area? We urge the citizens and nearby residents to look into this project and how it will affect our community and the Bass Lake area. Please find us on Facebook at Friends of Bass Lake – Enumclaw, WA for more information.

Brad & Heather Boren

Enumclaw